Collapsible Storage Device

ABSTRACT

The collapsible storage device contains a foldable and expandable support member inside the storage device. The support member contains a first moving plate, a second moving plate, a third moving plate, and a fourth moving plate, cascaded in series. A front moving plate and a back moving plate support a front side and a back side of the storage device, respectively. The front moving plate can also function as a door to the storage device. The moving plates in the middle are laid on a bottom side of the storage device as bottom plates. This support member allows a user to quickly and conveniently expand and collapse the storage device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally related to storage devices, and more particular to collapsible storage devices.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Storage is a common need in today's households. A conventional storage box is usually integrally formed using plastics, and therefore is rigid in shape and occupy a certain space. When the storage box is not in use, it cannot be collapsed and folded to reduce the space it occupies. Some storage boxes are made of woods or other materials. However, other than the difference in terms of material used, the problem of rigid shape and space occupation remains

Therefore there are collapsible storage boxes commercially available. But, due to their design, they still require a certain space after being collapsed. In addition, their appearance is less satisfactory, and they cannot be conveniently stored either.

To achieve a small thickness after collapse, some storage boxes have their walls made by flexible fabrics. When these boxes are used, some rigid plates of the boxes are used to support the soft walls. However, the assembly and storage of these collapsible storage boxes are still not convenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a fast collapsible storage device whose gist lies in a foldable and expandable support member inside the storage device. The support member contains three to four serially cascaded moving plates. A front moving plate and a back moving plate support a front side and a back side of the storage device, respectively. The front moving plate can also function as a door to the storage device. The one or two moving plates in the middle are laid on a bottom side of the storage device as bottom plates. This support member allows a user to quickly and conveniently expand and collapse the storage device.

Another feature of the present invention is that the storage device can further contain a drawer member received by the storage device that can also be quickly and conveniently expanded and collapsed.

The collapsible storage device contains a casing member and a support member. The casing member contains a top plate, a soft bottom piece opposing the top plate, a first side plate, a second side plate opposing the first side plate, and a soft back piece. The first and second side plates are configured between corresponding edges of the top plate and the bottom piece, and the soft back piece borders the top plate, the bottom piece, and the first and second side plates. The back piece, the first and second side plate can turn relative to the top plate along where they are joined together. Similarly, the back piece, the first and second side plate can turn relative to the bottom piece along where they are joined together. The first and second side plates can turn relative to the back piece along where they are joined together. The support member contains a first moving plate, a second moving plate, a third moving plate, and a fourth moving plate, cascaded in series in the above order. Two adjacent moving plates can turn relative to each other along where they are joined together. A back edge of the first moving plate is rotatably joined to a back edge of the top plate, along with the top edge of the back piece. When the casing member is expanded, the first moving plate is turned to be against the back piece so as to provide support along a vertical direction, the second and third moving plates are turned to lay flatly on the bottom piece, the fourth moving plate is used to cover or open a front opening of the casing member.

Preferably, the top plate is configured with an interface element along the edges of the top plate, and the top edges of the back piece and the first and second side plates are rotatably joined to the interface element;

Preferably, the interface element has an H-shaped cross-section, thereby providing a top trough and a bottom trough. Each edge of the top plate is bended downward and embedded in the top trough, and the top edges of the back piece and the first and second side plates are embedded in the bottom trough.

In order to provide full support to the expanded storage device, the first moving plate has an area greater than or equal to that of the back piece inside the casing member, the total area of the second and third moving plates is greater than or equal to that of the bottom piece inside the casing member.

To facilitate the close of the fourth moving plate to the casing member, a first magnet is configured at an appropriate location on a back side of the fourth moving plate, a second magnet is configured in a downward extended patch from a front section of the interface element, and the first and second magnets are of reverse polarities.

To steadily position of the support member after expansion, a first fastening element is configured at an appropriate location on a bottom side of the third moving plate, and a second fastening element matching the first fastening element is configured correspondingly on a top side of the bottom piece.

To facilitate the open of the fourth moving plate, a handle is configured on an outer side of the fourth moving plate.

The collapsible storage device can further contain a drawer member received by the casing member, and the drawer member contains a number of plates assembled together.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention after its assembly.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective diagram showing the insides of the storage device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged diagram showing the details of a portion 2A of the storage device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective diagram showing the expansion of a support member inside the storage device.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged diagram showing the details of a portion 3A of the storage device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective diagram showing the collapse of a support member inside the storage device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram showing a fully collapsed storage device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective diagram showing a number of corresponding magnets configured on an interface element and on a moving plate, respectively.

FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram showing a drawer member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective diagram showing the drawer member of FIG. 7 and the storage device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention after its assembly. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective diagram showing the inside of the storage device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2A is an enlarged diagram showing the details of a portion of the storage device of FIG. 1. As illustrated, the storage device contains a casing member 10 and a support member 10A. The casing member 10 contains a top plate 101 and a soft bottom piece 107 opposing the top plate 101. Between the corresponding edges of the top plate 101 and the bottom piece 107, there are a first side plate 114, a second side plate 115 opposing the first side plate 114, and a soft back piece 106 bordering the top plate 101, the bottom piece 107, the first and second side plates 114 and 115.

The above-described top plate 101, the first and second side plates 114 and 115 are rigid and of an appropriate strength. The back and bottom pieces 106 and 107 are made of a soft material and, due to their material flexibility, they can turn towards their neighboring plates 101, 114, and 115.

The top plate 101 is configured with an interface element 108 along the edges of the top plate. The interface element 108 is a closed, rectangular frame made of bamboo, woods, or plastics. The interface elements 108 are joined to the back piece 106, the first and second side plates 114 and 115, respectively.

In a preferred embodiment, the interface element 108 has an H-shaped cross-section, thereby providing a top trough 108 a and a bottom trough 108 b. Each edge of the top plate 101 is bended downward and embedded in the top trough 108 a of the interface element 108. The top edges of the back piece 106, the first and second side plates 114 and 115 are embedded in the bottom trough 108 b of the interface elements 108, respectively.

The support member 10A contains a first moving plate 102, a second moving plate 103, a third moving plate 104, and a fourth moving plate 105, cascaded in series in the above order. The first to fourth moving plates 102 to 105 are rigid, and two adjacent moving plates can turn towards each other. A back edge of the first moving plate 102 is embedded in the bottom trough 108 b of the interface element 108, along with the top edge of the back piece 106. The first moving plate 102 can also freely turn relative to the top plate 101.

Preferably, the first moving plate 102 has an area greater than or equal to that of the back piece 106 inside the casing member 10. The total area of the second and third moving plates 103 and 104 is greater than or equal to that of the bottom piece 107 inside the casing member 10. The area of the fourth moving plate 105 is greater than or equal to that of the first moving plate 102. As such, when the casing member 10 is expanded, the first moving plate 102 is turned to be against the back piece 106 so as to provide support along a vertical direction. The second and third moving plates 103 and 104 are turned to lay flatly on the bottom piece 107. The fourth moving plate 105 is turned to be vertical and parallel with the first moving plate 102 so that it can reveal or conceal what is contained in the casing member 10 like a door as shown in FIG. 3.

In order to facilitate the fourth moving plate 105's role as a door, preferably, a first magnet 112 is configured at an appropriate location on a back side of the fourth moving plate 105. A second magnet 113 is configured in a downward extended patch 116 from a front section of the interface element 108. The first and second magnets 112 and 113 are of reverse polarities so they are attracted to each other. Therefore, when the fourth moving plate 105 is turned to be vertical, the fourth moving plate 105 is positioned steadily as the first and second magnets 112 and 113 are attracted together. In addition, a loop handle 111 is configured on an outer side of the fourth moving plate 105. By pulling the loop handle 111, the first and second magnets 112 and 113 are detached and the fourth moving plate 105 can be turned again.

As shown in FIG. 6, multiple second magnets 113 can be configured on a front section of the interface element 108, and multiple corresponding first magnets 112 are configured on the back side of the fourth moving plate 105.

Furthermore, in order to lay the second and third moving plates 103 and 104 steadily on the bottom piece 107 without displacement, a first fastening element 109 (such as a Velcro hook and loop fastener) is configured at an appropriate location on a bottom side of the third moving plate 104, and a second fastening element 110 matching the first fastening element 109 is configured correspondingly on a top side of the bottom piece 107. As shown in FIG. 3A, when the second and third moving plates 103 and 104 are turned and arranged flatly on the bottom piece 107, the first and second fastening elements 109 and 110 lock each other to prevent displacement.

To collapse the casing member 10, as shown in FIG. 4, the first to fourth moving plates 102 to 105 of the support member 10A are turned and folded together. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the casing member 10 is fully collapsed into a flatted state.

Alternatively, the storage box can further contain a drawer member 20 accompanying the casing member 10. As shown in FIG. 7, the drawer member 20 contains a rectangular bottom plate 201 and four side plates 202, 203, 204, and 205, each extended vertically upward from an edge of the bottom plate 201. The side plates 202, 203, 204, and 205 have their top edges joined to inner edges of moving plates 206, 207, 208, and 209, respectively. One of the moving plates, say, 208 has its outer edge (opposite to the inner edge) joined to an inner edge of a fifth moving plate 210. The fifth moving plate 210 in turn has its outer edge (opposite to the inner edge) joined to an inner edge of a sixth moving plate 211. Each of the above-mentioned moving plates 206 to 211 can turn relative to an adjacent moving plate or an adjacent side plate and therefore the drawer member 20, as shown in FIG. 8, is formed. The drawer member 20 can be slid into the casing member 10 through a front side of the casing member 10.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention. 

I claim:
 1. A collapsible storage device, comprising: a casing member, the casing member comprising a top plate, a soft bottom piece opposing the top plate, a first side plate, a second side plate opposing the first side plate, and a soft back piece, where the first and second side plates are configured between corresponding edges of the top plate and the bottom piece, and the soft back piece borders the top plate, the bottom piece, the first and second side plates, the top plate is configured with an interface element along the edges of the top plate, and the top edges of the back piece and the first and second side plates are rotatably joined to the interface element; and a support member, the support member comprising a first moving plate, a second moving plate, a third moving plate, and a fourth moving plate, rotatably cascaded in series in the above order, where a back edge of the first moving plate is rotatably joined to a back section of the interface element, along with the top edge of the back piece, when the casing member is expanded, the first moving plate is turned to be against the back piece so as to provide support along a vertical direction, the second and third moving plates are turned to lay flatly on the bottom piece, the fourth moving plate is used to cover or open a front opening of the casing member, the first moving plate has an area greater than or equal to that of the back piece inside the casing member, the total area of the second and third moving plates is greater than or equal to that of the bottom piece inside the casing member.
 2. The collapsible storage device according to claim 1, wherein the interface element has an H-shaped cross-section, thereby providing a top trough and a bottom trough; each edge of the top plate is bended downward and embedded in the top trough; and the top edges of the back piece and the first and second side plates are embedded in the bottom trough.
 3. The collapsible storage device according to claim 1, wherein a first fastening element is configured at an appropriate location on a bottom side of the third moving plate; and a second fastening element matching the first fastening element is configured correspondingly on a top side of the bottom piece.
 4. The collapsible storage device according to claim 1, wherein a first magnet is configured at an appropriate location on a back side of the fourth moving plate; a second magnet is configured in a downward extended patch from a front section of the interface element; and the first and second magnets are of reverse polarities.
 5. The collapsible storage device according to claim 1, wherein a handle is configured on an outer side of the fourth moving plate.
 6. The collapsible storage device according to claim 1 further comprising a drawer member received by the casing member.
 7. The collapsible storage device according to claim 6, wherein the drawer member comprises a plurality of plates assembled together. 